Indicating device



Feb. 19, 1935. R. A. HARPER INDICATING DEVICE Filed April 11, 1933 ar ver .5 order desired to be filled.-

Patented Feb. 19, 1935 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

v INDIGATING DEVICE Ralph A. Hamel-{Harrisburg Pa. Application April 11, 1993, Serial No. 665,614

6 Claims. (01.40-96) This invention relates to an indicating device, and it is primarilyan object of the invention to provide a device of this kind adapted to be placed upon a milk bottle to indicate to the milkman an Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kindcomprising a hollow member having arranged thereina plurality of endless webs each of which being associatedwith a window, said webs carrying certain. indications which, when brought into register with the windows, readilyindicate to the milkman or the like what may be desired by the customer..

The invention consists'in' the details of construction and in the combinationand arrangement of the several parts of my improvedindicating device whereby certain important advantages are attained andthe device rendered simpler,,less expensive and otherwise morecon'venient and advantageous foruse, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. '1

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter he definitely claimed. i

In order that my inventionmay be thebetter understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, where1n:

Figure 1 is a view in top plan of an indicating device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention; r

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, an associated portion of a milk bottle being shown in fragment;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure ,1 with theassociated portion of the milkbottle in fragment;

Figure 5 is a view in bottom plan of the device as herein disclosed;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line '77 of Figure 6. 1

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, my improved indicating device comprises a hollow member M having a bottom plate 1 and a cap plate 2 fixed thereto whereby a suitable chamber 3 is provided. The bottom plate 1 has its central portion depressed, as at 4, to permit the same to be positioned to advantage upon the top of the neck of a milk bottle B. This plate 1 is also provided with a substantially U-shaped flange 5 curved in cross section as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4 whereby the member M in its entirety may be conveniently applied to the bottle B and effectively held thereto.

It is to be noted that the cross sectional curva ture of the flange 5 is such as to causesaid flange to snugly engage with the bead.6 of the bottle B and particularly below the bead 6. The cap plate 2. is provided with a radial series of. openings '7, herein disclosed as three in numberpand through each of which is adapted to be exposed a portion of an endless web 8. These webs 8 are each disposed around a spool 9 freely mountedupon a stationary shaft 10 intersecting the chamber 3 and rotatably supported by the peripheral wall or flange 11. The webs 8 as particularly illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 are three in number and the side webs 8 are each disposed around a spool 12 freelymounted upon a sta tionary shaft 14 positioned-within the chamber. 3 and supported. byvthe. wall or'flange 11. The central web 8 is disposed around a spool 15 freely mounted on a second shaft 16 positioned adjacent to butloutwardlyof the shaft 14 and'in parallelism therewith. Ihis shaft 16 is also supported by the side wall or flange'11 of the member M. 25

As particularly illustrated in'Figure 3, the shaft 10. is to one side of the aligned openings '7 while the shafts 14 and 16 are to the opposite sides thereof. 1

Each of the spools 12 and 15 carries a knurled head 17 which projects beyond the'top of the member M through a suitably positioned slot 18 provided therein. This is to provide ready access by the digit" of a hand to rotate thedesired-spool 12 or 15 to adjust a web 8 to bring into desired register with its associated opening" at 7 the desired indication 18 on the web. The indications ontwoaof the-webs 8 relate to merchandise generally sold and distributed by a milkman or dairyman while on the third or remaining web the indications 18 are consecutively numbered from 1 up. As illustrated in Figure 1, presuming that the device is set upon a quart cream bottle the figure 2 exposed through one of the openings '7 gives notice that two additional quarts are required while the exposure on the middle web shows that in addition one quart of milk is to be delivered. Of course, the indications on the webs may be changed or varied as the requirements of practice may prefer. 1

Each of the openings 7 is produced by striking out the desired metal, such metal however being disposed inwardly of the chamber 3 to provide spaced guide plates 19 at opposite sides of each of the webs 8 to hold such web against lateral movement.

A face of each of the knurled heads 17 at opposite sides of its center is provided with a pair of radially aligned notches or recesses 20 in which is adapted to engage an angular end portion a of a pin 21 engaged with the shaft 14 or 16. This pin 21 in addition to holding a spool 12 or 15 on either of the shafts l4. and 16 against endwise movement in one direction also serves as a ratchet coacting with the notches or recesses 20 to hold the spool normally against rotation and thereby at the same time holding the coacting web 8 against movement.

The chamber 3 to one side of the webs 8 is provided with the angularly related partitions 22 which provide a pocket to receive a coin vor. ticket which can be readily inserted within such pocket through the slot 23 provided in the peripheral wall or flange 11. The bottom plate 1 and the adjacent portion of the peripheral wall or flange 11 are cut away, as at 24, to provide an opening whereby the removal of the coin or ticket from within the pocket is materially facilitated as such cut away portion or opening 24 readily per mits the entrance of a digit of the hand within the pocket.

From the. foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that an indicating device constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted. for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it maybe assembled and operated, and it also be obvious that my invention is: susceptible of some change and l modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason. I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

. I claim:-

1. An indicating device to be applied upon a mill: bottlecomprising a hollow member, one wall of the member having means to engage the device upon a milk bottle to close the. top of the bottle, the opposite face of the member having openings, webs mounted within the device, each of said webs having a portion exposed through one ofv the openings in the wall of the member, and means for shifting each of. the webs, said webs having indications for exposure through the openings in the wall of the member.

2. An indicating device: to be applied upon a milk bottle comprising a hollow member, one wall of the member having means to engage the device upon a milk bottle to close the top of the bottle, the opposite face of the member having openings,

webs mounted within the device, each of said webs having a portion exposed through one of the openings in the wall of the member, means for shifting each of the webs, said webs having indications for exposure through the openings in the wall of the member, and means for'holding a. web against movement.

3. An indicating device comprising a hollow and the other of said webs with the second or.

said second shafts, and means mounted upon each of said second shafts and coacting with the webs to provide means for selectively shifting each of the webs one independently of the other.

4. An indicating device comprising a hollow member, a wall of which .havinga plurality of openings, a shaft support'ed'within the member to one side of said openings, shafts supported within said member at the opposite side of the openings, endless webs operatively engaged with the first named shaft, certain of said webs being uperatively engaged. with one of the second shafts and the other of said webs with the second 0! said second shafts, means. mounted upon each o1 said. second shafts and coacting withv the web: to provide means for. selectively shifting each of the webs one independently of the other, and means for holding said webs against movement.

5. An indicating device to be applied upon a milk. bottle comprising a hollow member, one wall of the member having means to engage the device upon a milk bottle, the opposite face of the member having openings, webs mounted within the device, each of said webs having a portion exposed through one of the openings in the wall of the member,.means for shifting each of the webs, said webs having indications for exposure through the openings in the wall of the member, and means carried. by one of the walls of the member and extending inwardly thereof for holding the webs against transverse movement.

6. A device to be applied upon a milk bottle comprising two spaced overlying members and a connecting peripheral flange, 9. wall between the members coasting with the peripheral flangeto provide a pocket to receive a coin or the like, a marginal portion of one of the members and the adjacent portion of the peripheral flange having an opening in communication with the pocket to allow a digit of a hand to engage the coin or the like within the pocket.

" RALPH A. HARPER. 

